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The original Old City is divided into buildings and courtyards, with
the seven-storey Chandra Mahal, or Moon Palace, at its center. Though
the city has expanded far beyond its original borders, a good bit of
the original wall is still intact. Today, though the ground floor and
outer courtyards of the Palace are devoted to a museum, the Maharaja
Sawai Man Singh II Museum, a former maharajah still occupies a portion
of it the palace. The museum has an extensive collection of rare
manuscripts, Moghal and Rajasthani miniature paintings, Moghal carpets,
costumes and textiles, arms and weapons and other royal objects.
The
Maharaja Jai Singh’s interests included the study of astronomy and he
sent scholars abroad to study existing observatories before beginning
construction in 1728 of the Jantar Mantar observatory, which today is
still of keen interest for visitors. He filled the observatory with
numerous instruments with which to study the stars; look for the
magnificent sundial with a 30 meter high gnomon (the piece that casts
the sun’s shadow to show the time) which is said to cast up to a 4
meter shadow. Of the five observatories he constructed, this one is the
best preserved.
Other
structures of note in Jaipur include the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the
Winds, built in 1799 and designed by the architect Lalchand Usta. The
five-story structure looks over the heart of the old city and is an
excellent example of Rajput work. Maharaja Sawaj Pratap Singh built
this palace so that ladies of the court could look out at the bustle of
the city but not be seen from the street. The Central Museum south of
the old city is housed in Albert Hall in the Ram Niwas Gardens. Expect
to see many aspects of Rajasthani life on display, including materials
from the rural areas. The Gardens include a zoo.
Expect to see people dressed colourfully and often wearing similarly colourful enamel jewelry called meenakari.
Happily, you can buy what you see! Jaipur offers excellent shopping and
is especially well-known for semi-precious gemstones. One can also
readily buy miniatures, handicrafts, clothes, as well as silver and lac
jewelry.
Jaipur
hosts several festivals throughout the year, the most prominent being
the Elephant Festival in March on the eve of Holi, the festival of
colors. The Gangaur Festival is held annually in honor of the goddess
Gauri, several days after Holi. Married women pray for their husbands;
unmarried girls pray to get a husband. The women chant hymns to the
goddess Parvati. The Teej festival celebrates the beginning of monsoon
season during July and August and is dedicated to the goddess Parvati.
Only
11 km from Jaipur is Amber Palace, the ancient capital of Jaipur state,
built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh. It is an excellent example of Rajput
architecture, perched on a hill, overlooking Maota Lake. The Jai Singh
family completed it before moving to the plain below. The majarajah’s
apartments are on the upper terrace.
Overlooking Amber
is the Nahagarh Fort, about 6 ½ km away, built by Jai Singh II in 1734,
also provides a magnificent view of Man Sagar Lake. The Jaigarh Fort,
built in 1726 by Jai Singh is on top of a cliff with a great view of
the plains. Inside walkways offer excellent views from all sides.
Astronomy in Jaipur
More in Jaipur
Shopping
Festivals Throughout the Year
Near Jaipur – Amber Palace and Nahagarh Fort